"Blessed to Believe: Devotionals by Robyn Henk" - 5 new articles
Keep Your Focus This Holiday Season
Look for Daily Holiday Devotionals
starting November 26.
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Look for more of Robyn's Thoughts at http://robynhenk.blogspot.com  • Email to a friend • Related • Standing Firm in Times of Drought
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8
The Pastor of my church, Pastor Mike, reminds us that behaviorists say most humans have two typical responses to threat or crisis - flight or fight; but we who know and follow Christ have a third option - stand. Like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream, we don't have to fear when the heat of personal crisis comes if we have come to know the Lord enough to trust in Him. If we have sunk our roots -- our hearts, minds, dreams, and priorities -- deep into His living water -- His truth, providence, and grace -- then in times of economic drought we need not give in to anxiety but can continue to produce the fruit of faith, grace, and hope. Scripture tells us, ... do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippines 4:6-7). The time to start sinking our roots into The Living Water is now, not when drought or crisis comes. Today, give all of your requests -- every thought, desire, hope, and plan to Him in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct your first anxious thoughts and moments to Him. And in every moment let your soul rejoice in the knowledge that you are NOT alone in your times of trouble or joy, want or plenty, need or fulfillment. There is One who is waiting to nurture and feed the very root of your being, and the peace that results will surpass any logic or expectation as Christ becomes the strength and comfort of your heart and mind. ...
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Look for more of Robyn's Thoughts at http://robynhenk.blogspot.com  • Email to a friend • Related • Spiritual Complacency
Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says the LORD, Lately I've been struggling with what I call spiritual complacency. My journal entries, what few there have been, are mostly filled with "I need to start...", "I really should...", "Why can't I seem to...", well, you get the idea, complacency. Every Monday I resolve to make this the week I exercise, diet, pray more, have more quiet times with the Lord... yet, by Tuesday I'm already frustrated. So once again this morning (Friday!) I found myself "re-committing." This time, I tried something "new." I prayed first! Pretty basic, I know. I opened my Bible to where I had left off some weeks ago, Jeremiah 6:16. Thus says the Lord... It felt as if the Father Himself, was asking me, are you serious about getting back on track? Are you serious about getting your passion and motivation back? If you are, here's what you need to do: "stand by the road" -- go to where you know I AM and stand there. He is not in my intentions or my frustrations, He is in His Word, His Kingdom, His Ways. "look and ask for the ancient paths where the good way is" -- search, seek, request, require, do what it takes to discover where the good way -- His way -- is. "and walk in it" -- don't debate it, don't refute it, don't waste time defending or excusing why my ways are necessary; just begin to walk in HIS pathway. "and find rest for your souls." -- then I will truly be at rest in my soul. Not my body -- I still have work to do, people to love and care for. Not even my mind -- I still have things to figure out, learn, and deal with. But my soul, my true self, will find rest. Not complacency, rest. THAT will restore, refresh, and renew my passion. ...
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Look for more of Robyn's Thoughts at http://robynhenk.blogspot.com  • Email to a friend • Related • Resolutions You Can Keep (Part 8)
Reap
This year, try something new for the New Year. Instead of trying to change some habit or situation, consider allowing the Spirit of God to change YOU. Let God’s Spirit bring new life, new perspective, and new power into who you are. Reflect on how serious you are about what you believe. Resolve to make yourself available to however God wants to transform you. Renew your spiritual excitement and energy. Reconnect with the One who made you and loves you, and commit to the work of reconciliation with those He gave His life for. Recognize the cost of transforming growth in your life, and then... reap the new life!
Meditation
Lord, help me to make each day of this year a transforming opportunity. Show me what needs to be restored, experienced, accepted or produced in my life that will glorify You and show the world how Good and Wonderful life with You can be. Amen
Happy New Year!
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Look for more of Robyn's Thoughts at http://robynhenk.blogspot.com  • Email to a friend • Related • Resolutions You Can Keep (part 7)
Recognize
One more step is absolutely necessary if we are really going to embrace the transformed life. We must be ready and willing to recognize the cost of being transformed!
Jesus said that there are three things that will prevent us from truly following Him: relationships, comfort, and possessions! “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me. But don’t begin until you count the cost... no one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me.” Luke 14:26-28, 33
Note that Jesus does not say you should not, or, you ought not be my disciple. Three times, He says that you CANNOT be His disciple if you will not count and agree to the cost of discipleship! Jesus’ words are very clear; we cannot be true disciples if relationships, comfort, or things are a greater influence on our life than He is! To take up your own cross you must be willing to let go of everything else.
But there is one more cost to recognize, the cost of not choosing discipleship. Dallas Willard writes,
“Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in the light of God’s over-riding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil…Nondiscipleship costs you exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring (John 10:10). The cross-shaped yoke of Christ is after all an instrument of liberation and power to those who live in it with him…” Meditation:
Lord, I accept the cost. Lord Christ, You are more precious to me than any thing. You are dearer to me than any other relationship. Your Kingdom come is more important to me than any dream or goal I may have of my own. The cost is worth it. You are worth everything. Amen
Book Recommendation:
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